Why On EARTH did Jeff Conaway leave the show...?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 09-19-2004, 05:56 PM

Does anybody here know why on earth Jeff Conaway left the show. Did he think he was going to go on to bigger things?? Yeah, right!

Conaway was an okay actor in supporting roles, but I couldn't see him strong enough to be a lead in a show or movie. His post-Taxi career is testament to this: Years later, he was demoted to daytime soaps and later, informercials.

He should've stayed til the end, but must've thought he was a big star. His loss!

TJL · 09-19-2004, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
Does anybody here know why on earth Jeff Conaway left the show.

The same reason McLean Stevenson left "M*A*S*H."

Insanity.

spunkygirl · 09-19-2004, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
Does anybody here know why on earth Jeff Conaway left the show. Did he think he was going to go on to bigger things?? Yeah, right!

Conaway was an okay actor in supporting roles, but I couldn't see him strong enough to be a lead in a show or movie. His post-Taxi career is testament to this: Years later, he was demoted to daytime soaps and later, informercials.

He should've stayed til the end, but must've thought he was a big star. His loss!

Hey now there's nothing wrong with being on a soap

Yeah he was more of a supporting actor than lead I loved him in Grease

Brian Damage · 09-22-2004, 09:56 AM

I guess the success of Grease went to his head.

Adamantium · 09-22-2004, 04:18 PM

I think he said his agent talked him into leaving. I've heard that he's said he regretted leaving "Taxi." I think that was on ET or some news show like that.

stratman · 02-28-2005, 12:33 AM

Wasn't he in 'Babylon 5'?

Mr. Television · 02-28-2005, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratman

Wasn't he in 'Babylon 5'?

Yea he was on that show.

Dean Winchester · 03-01-2005, 12:23 PM

Bobby was not one of my fave characters, so his exit from the show didn't affect it the way I think Louie or Rev. Jim or Alex leaving would've done.

pscisme · 03-01-2005, 04:13 PM

I saw Jeff C. on Geraldo where he addressed the question of WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU LEAVE TAXI, ANYWAYS?!!

his answer was twofold:

1. He was a coke fiend at the time and hardly in a position to be trusted with making important decisions.

2. He'd signed with different agent/managment representation and as he explains it, these new folks pushed him to leave because they got no commission from his TAXI money as his deal was negotiated before they came on the scene.

I'm sure they appealed to his ego (You could do so much more, you deserve to be the lead, etc.) and suddenly he was going on to....starring in WIZARDS and WARRRIORS (or something like that!) for a very short time on CBS.

I think he could very well have been a good leading man given the right opportunities. He was handsome, versatile in drama and comedy (I think with any less a lead than TRAVOLTA, he would have stolen GREASE) and musically talented to boot.

But you can't discount the damage done by cocaine and besides, given all the success the actor had already, it's hard to sympathize with someone who would believe that all that wasn't enough....

stratman · 03-02-2005, 12:02 AM

True

Dr. Thong · 02-20-2008, 02:45 PM

It's really sad to see what he's become on Celebrity Rehab. He really sabotaged his personal life and career with drugs. You don't know whether to root him on to get clean and sober or just to hope that it ends for him soon. If he keeps going on the way he's going on, how much longer can he survive??

I hope Conaway can find peace and happiness.

catlover79 · 05-10-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's really sad to see what he's become on Celebrity Rehab. He really sabotaged his personal life and career with drugs. You don't know whether to root him on to get clean and sober or just to hope that it ends for him soon. If he keeps going on the way he's going on, how much longer can he survive??

I hope Conaway can find peace and happiness.

I agree with that. Bobby and Tony were really kind of the same character in a way (macho yet dim-bulbed hunks) - and were not nearly as important in the story as Alex, Louie and Rev. Jim. In any case, I hope he cleans up his act and can stay sober.

09-19-2004, 05:56 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Why On EARTH did Jeff Conaway leave the show...?? Does anybody here know why on earth Jeff Conaway left the show. Did he think he was going to go on to bigger things?? Yeah, right! Conaway was an okay actor in supporting roles, but I couldn't see him strong enough to be a lead in a show or movie. His post-Taxi career is testament to this: Years later, he was demoted to daytime soaps and later, informercials. He should've stayed til the end, but must've thought he was a big star. His loss!
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

09-22-2004, 09:56 AM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I guess the success of Grease went to his head.

09-22-2004, 04:18 PM	#5
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,826	I think he said his agent talked him into leaving. I've heard that he's said he regretted leaving "Taxi." I think that was on ET or some news show like that.

02-28-2005, 12:33 AM	#6
stratman Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 86	Wasn't he in 'Babylon 5'?

03-01-2005, 12:23 PM	#8
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Bobby was not one of my fave characters, so his exit from the show didn't affect it the way I think Louie or Rev. Jim or Alex leaving would've done.

03-01-2005, 04:13 PM	#9
pscisme Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Posts: 230	I saw Jeff C. on Geraldo where he addressed the question of WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU LEAVE TAXI, ANYWAYS?!! his answer was twofold: 1. He was a coke fiend at the time and hardly in a position to be trusted with making important decisions. 2. He'd signed with different agent/managment representation and as he explains it, these new folks pushed him to leave because they got no commission from his TAXI money as his deal was negotiated before they came on the scene. I'm sure they appealed to his ego (You could do so much more, you deserve to be the lead, etc.) and suddenly he was going on to....starring in WIZARDS and WARRRIORS (or something like that!) for a very short time on CBS. I think he could very well have been a good leading man given the right opportunities. He was handsome, versatile in drama and comedy (I think with any less a lead than TRAVOLTA, he would have stolen GREASE) and musically talented to boot. But you can't discount the damage done by cocaine and besides, given all the success the actor had already, it's hard to sympathize with someone who would believe that all that wasn't enough....

03-02-2005, 12:02 AM	#10
stratman Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 86	True

02-20-2008, 02:45 PM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	It's really sad to see what he's become on Celebrity Rehab. He really sabotaged his personal life and career with drugs. You don't know whether to root him on to get clean and sober or just to hope that it ends for him soon. If he keeps going on the way he's going on, how much longer can he survive?? I hope Conaway can find peace and happiness.